visionary
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who has very creative and original ideas about what the future could be like.
n.a person with original and progressive ideas about how a field, business, or society will develop in the future.
Simple“The company's founder was a visionary who predicted the rise of smartphones.”
In context“The tech industry mourned the loss of a true visionary whose early patents laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having or showing clear and creative ideas about the future.
adj.possessing or showing clear, creative, and original ideas about what the future will be like.
Simple“Her visionary leadership helped the small charity grow into a global organization.”
In context“The architect was praised for his visionary approach to urban planning, which integrated green spaces into high-density residential zones.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun.
SynonymsAntonymsshortsightedunimaginative - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describing an idea that is very bold but might be impossible to achieve.
adj.relating to or characterized by idealistic, utopian, or potentially impractical schemes.
Simple“Some critics dismissed the plan for a city on Mars as a visionary dream.”
In context“While the proposal was admired for its ambition, many board members considered it too visionary for the current economic climate.”
Teacher's tipIn formal contexts, this can be a 'backhanded compliment' meaning the idea is beautiful but totally unrealistic.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a person who sees religious visions or has deep spiritual experiences.
n.a person who experiences religious or spiritual visions; a seer.
Simple“The village treated the young girl as a visionary after she claimed to see an angel.”
In context“Historical accounts describe the mystic as a visionary who provided counsel to kings based on his nightly revelations.”
“He posed as a brave visionary; perhaps he even believed that he was giving voice to the displaced white community of the Midlands who felt crowded out by Black and Asian immigrants.”
“We are deeply grateful to our patrons for their visionary support and for joining us on the journey to create one of the world’s great new museums.”
From vision + -ary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.